as in to kill time
to spend time doing nothing
returned home unannounced and found the au pair goofing off
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goof-off
Noun
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Bowling in That’s My Boy Broke slacker Donny Berger reconnects with his estranged son, Han Solo (Andy Samberg), via a night of debauchery with Uncle Vanny, better known as Vanilla Ice.—
Derek Lawrence,
Vulture,
28 July 2025 -
Judge introduced his iconic slacker duo way back in 1993, debuting on MTV’s toon mashup Liquid Television.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
24 July 2025
Noun
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Especially given the turmoil with the other edge rushers, eyes are focused on seeing if Murphy looks like the same underachiever from the first two years or a blossoming athletic specimen.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
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On the other side, some health-care underachievers like Bristol Myers and Danaher are finally bouncing after their rough couple of months.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
1 July 2025
Verb
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This is something Kang was championing — badass characters who also veg out on the couch without makeup on.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Aug. 2025
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And while humans tend to veg out on the couch, canines typically only watch for short periods.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
Verb
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Chan says insurers often lack transparency on the proportion of a rebate that is kicked back to them from a PBM.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
25 July 2025
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The then-councilor doled out a $13,000 bonus to one of her Council staffers, a relative but not immediate family member, on the condition that $7,000 be kicked back to her.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
18 July 2025
Verb
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This matching set has your back for everything from lounging and running errands to exhausting travel days.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
People.com,
10 Aug. 2025
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The cafe serves coffee drinks, sandwiches and other pastries to hungry customers lounging in its large outdoor patio.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Sizes Tablecloths should hang about 8-16 inches on each side for formal dining and about 3-6 inches on each side for casual dining.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
10 June 2025
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Most asteroids hang about in the Mars to Jupiter region, and the ones near Earth obviously hang about a bit closer.—
Dana Taylor,
USA TODAY,
2 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Following a procession in his hometown in Birmingham, England, he was laid to rest on the estate of his home in Buckinghamshire on July 31.—
Thomas Smith,
Billboard,
7 Aug. 2025
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Whether it’s outfitted with a bookshelf full of beloved paperbacks, a comfy chaise lounge, or a dedicated art table, the goal is the same: create a space that fosters rest, creativity, and quiet—no notifications.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Get our daily newsletter Yet Mr Schwarzman avoids footling with life’s foot-soldiers for a reason.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
19 Sep. 2019
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Last year an American startup called Swarm Technologies paid a footling $900,000 fine for sending four tiny satellites into orbit on an Indian rocket, having been denied permission to do so by the US Federal Communications Commission.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
17 July 2019
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Cite this Entry
“Goof-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goof-off. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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